Video encoding method, video decoding method, and apparatus using same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a video encoding method, to a video decoding method, and to an apparatus using same. The video encoding method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: setting a tile and a slice for the inputted current picture; performing encoding based on the tile and the slice; and a step of transmitting the encoded video information. The current picture may include one or more tiles and one or more slices. The largest coding units (hereinafter, referred to as LCUs) in the slice may be arranged based on a tile scan.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a video compression technique, and moreparticularly, to a method of specifying a region of a picture.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, demands for a high-resolution and high-quality image haveincreased in various fields of applications. As an image has higherresolution and higher quality, an amount of data on the image increasesmore.

Accordingly, when image data is transferred using media such as existingwired or wireless broadband lines or image data is stored in existingstorage media, the information transfer cost and the information storagecost increase.

High-efficiency image compressing techniques can be used to effectivelytransfer, store, and reproduce information on high-resolution andhigh-quality images.

Inter prediction and intra prediction can be used to enhance imagecompression efficiency. In the inter prediction, pixel values of acurrent picture are predicted with reference to information of otherpictures. In the intra prediction, pixel values of a current picture arepredicted using an inter-pixel relationship in the same picture.

Various methods for making an image equal to an original image can beapplied to a process unit, for example, a block, of a predicted picture.Accordingly, a decoder can decode an image more accurately (more closelyto an original image), and an encoder can encode an image to reconstructthe image more accurately.

Therefore, it is necessary to study about how to define process units ina picture, for example, how to define a constraint on process units or aconstraint on use of the process units.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

An object of the invention is to provide a method and a device that candecoding and encoding efficiency.

Another object of the invention is to provide a configuration of slicesand tiles that can enhance coding efficiency.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a configuration oftiles and largest coding units that can enhance coding efficiency and acoding method and a coding device using the configuration.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method and adevice for signaling entry point information for enhancing codingefficiency.

Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a videoencoding method including the steps of: setting a tile and a slice in aninput current picture; performing an encoding operation on the basis ofthe tile and the slice; and transmitting encoded video information,wherein the current picture includes one or more tiles and one or moreslices, and wherein largest coding units (LCUs) in the slice are orderedin a tile scan.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a videodecoding method including the steps of: receiving video information;specifying a tile and a slice in a current picture on the basis of thereceived video information; and performing a decoding operation on thebasis of the tile and the slice, wherein the current picture includesone or more tiles and one or more slices, and wherein largest codingunits (LCUs) in the slice are ordered in a tile scan.

Advantageous Effects

According to the invention, it is possible to enhance coding efficiencyusing an effective configuration of slices and tiles.

According to the invention, it is possible to enhance coding efficiencyusing an effective configuration of tiles and largest coding units

According to the invention, it is possible to accurately indicate anentry point for parallel processing by signaling entry pointinformation.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a video encoderaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a video decoderaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a slice.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tile and a slice.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of a tile and a slice.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example where aproblem occurs in a parallel process.

FIG. 7 is diagram schematically illustrating an example of a raster scanorder of LCUs.

FIG. 8 is diagram schematically illustrating an example of a raster scanorder of LCUs.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a problemthat may occur in a decoding process depending on a structure of slicesand tiles.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of astructure of slices and tiles according to the invention.

FIGS. 11 to 15 are diagrams illustrating tile and slice configurations.

FIG. 16 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a tile andslice configuration when Table 1 is applied.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an encoding methodaccording to the invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a decoding methodaccording to the invention.

MODE FOR INVENTION

The present invention can be modified in various forms, and specificembodiments thereof will be described and shown in the drawings.However, the embodiments are not intended for limiting the invention.The terms used in the following description are used to merely describespecific embodiments, but are not intended to limit the invention. Anexpression of a singular number includes an expression of the pluralnumber, so long as it is clearly read differently. The terms such as“include” and “have” are intended to indicate that features, numbers,steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof used inthe following description exist and it should be thus understood thatthe possibility of existence or addition of one or more differentfeatures, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, orcombinations thereof is not excluded.

On the other hand, elements in the drawings described in the inventionare independently drawn for the purpose of convenience for explanationof different specific functions in an image encoding/decoding apparatusand does not mean that the elements are embodied by independent hardwareor independent software. For example, two or more elements of theelements may be combined to form a single element, or one element may bedivided into plural elements. The embodiments in which the elements arecombined and/or divided belong to the scope of the invention withoutdeparting from the concept of the invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like constituents inthe drawings will be referenced by like reference numerals and will notbe repeatedly described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a video encoderaccording to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1, avideo encoder 100 includes a picture partitioning module 105, aprediction module 110, a transform module 115, a quantization module120, a rearrangement module 125, an entropy encoding module 130, adequantization module 135, an inverse transform module 140, a filteringmodule 145, and a memory 150.

The picture partitioning module 105 may partition an input picture intoat least one process unit block. Here, a block as the process unit maybe a prediction unit (hereinafter, referred to as a “PU”), a transformunit (hereinafter, referred to as a “TU”), or a coding unit(hereinafter, referred to as a “CU”).

The process unit blocks partitioned by the picture partitioning module105 may have a quad-tree structure.

The prediction module 110 includes an inter prediction module thatperforms an inter prediction process and an intra prediction module thatperforms an intra prediction process, as will be described later. Theprediction module 110 performs a prediction process on the processingunits of a picture divided by the picture dividing module 105 to createa prediction block. In the prediction module 110, the processing unit ofa picture may be a CU, a TU, or a PU. The prediction module 110 maydetermine whether the prediction performed on the correspondingprocessing unit is an inter prediction or an intra prediction, and maydetermine specific details (for example, a prediction mode) of theprediction methods. The processing unit subjected to the predictionprocess may be different from the processing unit of which theprediction method and the specific details are determined. For example,the prediction method and the prediction mode may be determined in theunits of PU and the prediction process may be performed in the units ofTU.

In the inter prediction, a prediction process may be performed on thebasis of information on at least one of a previous picture and/or asubsequent picture of a current picture to create a prediction block. Inthe intra prediction, a prediction process may be performed on the basisof pixel information of a current picture to create a prediction block.

In the inter prediction, a skip mode, a merge mode, an MVP (MotionVector Prediction) mode, and the like may be used. In the interprediction, a reference picture may be selected for a PU, and areference block having the same size as the PU may be selected byinteger pixel samples. Then, a prediction block in which a residualsignal from the current PU is minimized and the motion vector magnitudeis minimized is created.

The prediction block may be constructed in the unit of integer pixelsamples or in the unit of pixel samples less than an integer pixel.Here, the motion vector may also be expressed in the unit of pixelsamples less than an integer pixel.

Information such as an index, a motion vector (for example, a motionvector predictor), and a residual signal of a reference picture selectedthrough the inter prediction is entropy-encoded and is transmitted to adecoder. When a skip mode is applied, a prediction block may be used asa reconstructed block and thus the residual signal may not be created,transformed, quantized, and transmitted at all.

When the intra prediction is performed, the prediction mode may bedetermined in the unit of PU and the prediction process may be performedin the unit of PU. Alternatively, the prediction mode may be determinedin the unit of PU and the inter prediction may be performed in the unitof TU.

The prediction modes in the intra prediction may include 33 directionalprediction modes and at least two non-directional modes. Thenon-directional modes may include a DC prediction mode and a planarmode.

In the intra prediction, a prediction block may be constructed after afilter is applied to a reference sample. At this time, it may bedetermined whether a filter should be applied to a reference sampledepending on the intra prediction mode and/or the size of a currentblock.

A PU may be a block having various sizes and shapes. For example, incase of inter prediction, a PU may be blocks having sizes such as 2N×2N,2N×N, N×2N, and N×N (where N is an integer). In case of intraprediction, a PU may be blocks having sizes such as 2N×2N and N×N (whereN is an integer). A PU with a size of N×N may be set to be applied toonly a specific case. For example, the PU with a size of N×N may be setto be used for only a smallest CU or may be set to be used for only theintra prediction. In addition to the PUs with the above-mentioned sizes,PUs such as an N×mN block, an mN×N block, a 2N×mN block, and an mN×2Nblock (where m<1) may be additionally defined and used.

Residual values (a residual block or a residual signal) between theconstructed prediction block and the original block are input to thetransform module 115. The prediction mode information, the motion vectorinformation, and the like used for the prediction are encoded along withthe residual values by the entropy encoding module 130 and aretransmitted to the decoder.

The transform module 115 performs a transform process on the residualblock in the unit of TUs and creates transform coefficients.

A transform block is a rectangular block of samples and is a block towhich the same transform is applied. The transform block may be a TU andmay have a quad-tree structure.

The transform module 115 may perform a transform process depending onthe prediction mode applied to a residual block and the size of theblock.

For example, when intra prediction is applied to a residual block andthe residual block has an 4×4 array, the residual block is transformedusing discrete sine transform (DST). Otherwise, the residual block maybe transformed using discrete cosine transform (DCT).

The transform module 115 may construct a transform block of transformcoefficients through the transform.

The quantization module 120 may quantize the residual values, that is,transform coefficients, transformed by the transform module 115 and maycreate quantization coefficients. The values calculated by thequantization module 120 may be supplied to the dequantization module 135and the rearrangement module 125.

The rearrangement module 125 may rearrange the transform coefficientssupplied from the quantization module 120. By rearranging thequantization coefficients, it is possible to enhance the encodingefficiency in the entropy encoding module 130.

The rearrangement module 125 may rearrange the quantized transformcoefficients in the form of a two-dimensional block to the form of aone-dimensional vector through the use of a coefficient scanning method.

The entropy encoding module 130 may perform an entropy encodingoperation on the quantization coefficients rearranged by therearrangement module 125. Examples of the entropy encoding methodinclude an exponential Golomb method, a CAVLC (Context-Adaptive VariableLength Coding) method, and a CABAC (Context-Adaptive Binary ArithmeticCoding) method. The entropy encoding module 130 may encode a variety ofinformation such as quantization coefficient information and block typeinformation of a CU, prediction mode information, partition unitinformation, PU information, transfer unit information, motion vectorinformation, reference picture information, block interpolationinformation, and filtering information transmitted from therearrangement module 125 and the prediction module 110.

The entropy encoding module 130 may give a predetermined change to aparameter set or syntaxes to be transmitted, if necessary.

The dequantization module 135 dequantizes the values (transformcoefficients) quantized by the quantization module 120. The inversetransform module 140 inversely transforms the values dequantized by thedequantization module 135.

The residual values created by the dequantization module 135 and theinverse transform module 140 may be merged with the predicted blockpredicted by the prediction module 110 to construct a reconstructedblock.

In FIG. 1, a residual block and a prediction block are added to create areconstructed block by an adder. At this time, the adder may beconsidered as a particular module (reconstructed block creating module)that creates a reconstructed block.

The filtering module 145 applies a deblocking filter, an ALF (AdaptiveLoop Filter), an SAO (Sample Adaptive Offset) to the reconstructedpicture.

The deblocking filter removes a block distortion generated at theboundary between blocks in the reconstructed picture. The ALF performs afiltering process on the basis of the result values of the comparison ofthe original picture with the reconstructed picture of which the blocksare filtered by the deblocking filter. The ALF may be applied only whenhigh efficiency is necessary. The SAO reconstructs offset differencesbetween the residual blocks having the deblocking filter applied theretoand the original picture and is applied in the form of a band offset, anedge offset, or the like.

On the other hand, the filtering module 145 may not perform a filteringoperation on the reconstructed block used in the inter prediction.

The memory 150 may store the reconstructed block or picture calculatedby the filtering module 145. The reconstructed block or picture storedin the memory 150 may be supplied to the prediction module 110 thatperforms the inter prediction.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a video decoderaccording to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2, avideo decoder 200 may include an entropy decoding module 210, arearrangement module 215, a dequantization module 220, an inversetransform module 225, a prediction module 230, a filtering module 235,and a memory 240.

When a video bitstream is input from the video encoder, the inputbitstream may be decoded on the basis of the order in which videoinformation is processed by the video encoder.

For example, when the video encoder uses a variable length coding(hereinafter, referred to as “VLC”) method such as the CAVLC method toperform the entropy encoding operation, the entropy decoding module 210may implement the same VLC table as the VLC table used in the videoencoder and may perform the entropy decoding operation. When the videoencoder uses the CABAC method to perform the entropy encoding process,the entropy decoding module 210 may perform the entropy decodingoperation using the CABAC method to correspond thereto.

Information for constructing a predicted block out of the informationdecoded by the entropy decoding module 210 may be supplied to theprediction module 230, and the residual values, that is, the quantizedtransform coefficients, entropy-decoded by the entropy decoding module210 may be input to the rearrangement module 215.

The rearrangement module 215 may rearrange the bitstream information,that is, the quantized transform coefficients, entropy-decoded by theentropy decoding module 210 on the basis of the rearrangement method inthe video encoder.

The rearrangement module 215 may reconstruct and rearrange thecoefficients expressed in the form of a one-dimensional vector intocoefficients in the form of a two-dimensional block. The rearrangementmodule 215 may scan the coefficients on the basis of the prediction modeapplied to the current block (transform block) and the size of thetransform block and may create an array of coefficients (quantizedtransform coefficients) in the form of a two-dimensional block.

The dequantization module 220 may perform dequantization on the basis ofthe quantization parameters supplied from the video encoder and thecoefficient values of the rearranged block.

The inverse transform module 225 may perform the inverse DCT and/orinverse DST of the DCT and/or DST, which has been performed by thetransform module of the video encoder, on the quantization result fromthe video encoder. The inverse transform may be performed on the basisof a transfer unit or a partition unit of a picture determined by thevideo encoder. The transform module of the video encoder may selectivelyperform the DCT and/or DST depending on plural information pieces suchas the prediction method, the size of a current block, and theprediction direction, and the inverse transform module 225 of the videodecoder may perform the inverse transform on the basis of the transforminformation on the transform performed by the transform module of thevideo encoder.

The prediction module 230 may construct a predicted block on the basisof prediction block construction information supplied from the entropydecoding module 210 and the previously-decoded block and/or pictureinformation supplied from the memory 240.

When the prediction mode of a current CU and/or PU is an intraprediction mode, the prediction module 230 may perform an intraprediction operation of constructing a predicted block on the basis ofpixel information of a current picture.

When the prediction mode for a current PU is the inter prediction mode,the prediction module 230 may perform the inter prediction operation onthe current PU on the basis of information included in at least one of aprevious picture and a subsequent picture of the current picture. Atthis time, motion information for the inter prediction of the currentPU, for example, information on motion vectors and reference pictureindices, supplied from the video encoder may be induced from a skipflag, a merge flag, and the like received from the video encoder.

The reconstructed block may be constructed using the predicted blockconstructed by the prediction module 230 and the residual block suppliedfrom the inverse transform module 225. FIG. 2 illustrates that theresidual block and the predicted block are added by an adder toconstruct a reconstructed block. Here, the adder may be considered as aparticular module (reconstructed block constructing module) thatconstructs a reconstructed block.

When the skip mode is used, the residual signal may not be transmittedand the predicted block may be used as a reconstructed block.

The reconstructed block and/or picture may be supplied to the filteringmodule 235. The filtering module 235 may perform a deblocking filteringoperation, an SAO operation, and/or an ALF operation on thereconstructed block and/or picture.

The memory 240 may store the reconstructed picture or block for use as areference picture or a reference block and may supply the reconstructedpicture to an output module.

The video encoder and the video decoder may partition a picture intopredetermined units and may process (encode/decode) the partitionedunits. For example, a picture may be partitioned into slices and tiles.

A slice may include a natural number of coding tree units (CTU) orcoding tree blocks (CTB) belonging to an independent slice segment anddependent slice segments subsequent to the independent slice segment andprior to a next independent slice segment in a single access unit (AU).

A coding tree unit is a coding unit with a quad-tree structure and canbe said to be a largest coding unit (LCU) because it is the largestcoding unit.

A coding tree unit may be designated as a coding tree block of lumasamples, a coding tree block two corresponding chroma samples in apicture having three sample arrays, and a syntax structure used toencode/decode the samples. Alternatively, a coding tree unit may bedesignated as a coding tree block of samples in a monochrome picture anda syntax structure used to encode/decode the samples, or may bedesignated as a coding tree block of samples in a picture coded usingthree separate color planes and a syntax structure used to encode/decodethe samples.

A coding tree block is a largest coding block and coding blocks may becreated by partitioning the coding tree block.

In this description, for the purpose of easy understanding of theinvention, the coding tree unit (CTU), the largest coding unit (LCU),and the coding tree block (CTB) may be used interchangeably ifnecessary.

A slice segment includes an integer number of CTUs (or LCUs) that areconsecutively ordered in a tile scan and that are included in a singlenetwork abstraction layer (NAL) unit.

In a slice segment, a part including data elements of the first codingtree block (coding tree unit) or all the coding tree blocks (coding treeunits) of the slice segment is referred to as a slice segment head. Whena current slice segment is an independent slice segment, the slicesegment head of the independent slice segment is referred to as a sliceheader. When a current slice segment is a dependent slice segment, theslice segment header of the latest independent slice segment out ofindependent slice segments prior to the current slice segment in thedecoding order is referred to as a slice header.

A slice may be a transmission unit of an NAL unit. For example, the NALunit may include slices or slice segments.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a slice.

A current picture may be partitioned into multiple slices by sliceboundaries. FIG. 3 illustrates an example where a current picture 300 ispartitioned into two slices by a slice boundary 350.

A slice includes slice segments including coding tree units. The slicesegments included in the slice may include an independent slice segmentand may also include dependent slice segments when the dependent slicesegments are present.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the first slice includes anindependent slice segment 310 including four coding tree units and afirst dependent slice segment 320 including 32 coding tree units and asecond dependent slice segment 340 including 24 coding tree units beforeand after a slice segment boundary 330. In the example illustrated inFIG. 3, one independent slice segment 360 includes 28 coding tree units.

A tile may be a sequence of coding tree units, coding tree blocks, orlargest coding units. The coding tree unit may be a coding unit with aquad-tree structure and may be a largest coding unit (LCU). As describedabove, in this description, the coding tree unit and the largest codingunit may be used interchangeably if necessary for the purpose of easyunderstanding of the invention.

Specifically, a tile is a rectangular region within a particular tilecolumn and a particular tile row in a picture. A tile column is arectangular region of CTBs (or LCUs) having the same height as theheight of the picture and having a width specified by signaling. A tilerow is a rectangular region having the same width as the width of thepicture and having a height specified by signaling.

As described above, the width of a tile column and the height of a tilerow may be specified by syntax elements to be signaled. For example, thewidth of a tile column and the height of a tile row in a picture may bespecified by syntax elements to be transmitted through the use of apicture parameter set of the picture.

A tile scan is a specific consecutive ordering of CTBs (or LCUs)partitioning a picture. In the tile scan, the consecutive ordering maymean that CTBs (or LCUs) are consecutively ordered in a CTB raster scanin a tile and tiles in a picture are consecutively ordered in a rasterscan.

A tile may be a scan unit in a picture. Accordingly, the tiles may beconsecutively ordered in a picture scan order, for example, in a rasterscan order, in the picture.

Both or one of two following conditions may be established for theslices and the tiles. (1) All coding tree units or largest coding unitsin a slice belong to the same tile. (2) All coding tree units or largestcoding units in a tile belong to the same slice.

Accordingly, a slice including multiple tiles and a tile includingmultiple slices may be present in the same picture.

Further, both or one of two following conditions may be established forthe slice segments and the tiles. (1) All coding tree units or largestcoding units in a slice segment belong to the same tile. (2) All codingtree units or largest coding units in a tile belong to the same slicesegment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a tile anda slice.

A tile in a picture may be partitioned into multiple tiles by a tileboundary. In FIG. 4, a current picture 400 includes only one slice andis partitioned into two tiles on the right and left sides by a tileboundary 410.

A tile and a slice may be present together. In the example illustratedin FIG. 4, the slice of the current picture 400 includes an independentslice segment 420 and four dependent slice segments partitioned by slicesegment boundaries 430, 440, and 450.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating another example of a tileand a slice.

FIG. 5 describes a current picture 500 is partitioned into two tiles onthe right and left sides by a tile boundary 510 as an example.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the left tile of the tile boundary510 includes two slices partitioned by a slice boundary 550.

As described above, a slice may include an independent slice and mayalso include a dependent slice when the dependent slice is present. InFIG. 5, the upper slice of the slice boundary 550 includes anindependent slice segment 520 and a dependent slice segment 540, and thelower slice of the slice boundary 550 includes an independent slicesegment 530 and a dependent slice segment 560.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, a slice next to a slice boundary590, that is, the slice in the second tile, includes an independentslice segment 570 and a dependent slice segment 580.

A tile and a slice may be independent decoding process units. Forexample, when parallel decoding is performed, each tile may be decodedby a single processing core and each slice may be decoded by a singleprocessing core.

In this regard, as can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, a slice and a tilemay be a sequence of consecutive coding tree blocks (coding tree units),but the tile may have a specific shape. For example, a tile may be arectangular region, unlike the slice.

In this way, a decoding process may be differently performed between aslice and a tile.

For example, in case of a slice, each slice segment includes a slicesegment header comprising data elements. As described above, a slicesegment header of an independent slice segment may be referred to as aslice header.

On the contrary, a tile may not be a unit in which header information ispresent, but may be a parallel processing (for example, paralleldecoding) unit.

Therefore, in case of tiles, inter-tile dependency does not occur for abreak caused by row or column boundaries of the coding tree blocks. Onthe contrary, in case of slices, dependency at the time of decoding maycause a problem with row or column boundaries of the coding tree blocks.In other words, when a slice is processed in parallel with a row or acolumn as a boundary, it may be difficult to decode a part not includinginformation of a slice header.

Therefore, as described above, predetermined constraints on tiles andslices may be necessary.

Relationships or constraints between tiles and slices will bespecifically described below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

A strict constraint is not imposed on the relationship between a currentslice and a current tile. The relationship between the current slice andthe current tile based on the premise that one or more tiles may bepresent in a slice and one or more slices may be present in a tile maybe expressed by a loose relationship.

This loose relationship may give flexibility to design of a decodingprocess, but may cause (1) a problem that a degree of parallelprocessing is constrained and (2) a problem that computation complexityincreases.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example where aproblem may occur in parallel processing.

It is assumed that the video encoder partitions a picture as illustratedin FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6, a region 600 of the picture includestile 1 610 and tile 2 620. The region 600 in the picture includes twoslices. The region 600 in the picture may be a partial region in thepicture or the entire region in the picture.

The first slice includes 10 coding tree blocks (1, 1) to (1, 10) and thesecond slice includes 6 coding tree blocks (2, 1) to (2, 6).

It is assumed that processing core 1 and processing core 2, which aremain bodies of the decoding process, process different tiles inparallel. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 6, processingcore 1 processes tile 1 610 and processing core 2 processes tile 2 620.One problem which may occur in FIG. 6 is that processing cores 1 and 2cannot perform a decoding process in parallel.

This is because the first LCU (coding tree block) of tile 2 620 is not astart portion of the slice and thus does not include information of theslice header. Accordingly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 6, theprocessing core has difficulty in performing a decoding process usingthe information of the slice header.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, when the tiles are independent andLCU (1, 9) and LCU (1, 10) are decoded, another problem may occur. Forexample, when independent tiles are used, intra prediction is notpermitted at the tile boundary and thus LCU (1, 9) and LCU (1, 10)cannot refer to LCU (1, 5) and LCU (1, 6).

However, since LCU (1, 9), LCU (1, 10), LCU (1, 5), and LCU (1, 6) areincluded in the same slice and there is no constraint applicable toreference pixels in the slice of the example illustrated in FIG. 6 inthe intra prediction, a confusion may occur in the decoding process.

Therefore, in order to reduce confusions and complexity that may occurin the parallel process, the following constraints may be imposed.

In a picture, a tile cannot traverse a slice boundary and a slice cannottraverse a tile boundary. In other words, an integer number of tiles hasto be present in a slice when the slice includes tiles, and an integernumber of slices has to be present in a tile when the tile includesslices.

Specifically,

(1) A picture may be partitioned into one or more slices and/or one ormore tiles.

(2) When a tile includes slices, an integer number of complete sliceshas to be present in the tile.

(3) When a slice includes tiles, an integer number of complete tiles hasto be present in the slice.

Here, a complete tile is one tile and means the entire region of a tilenot partitioned into parts. A complete slice is one slice and means theentire region of a slice not partitioned into parts.

The relationship between slices and tiles may be considered in view ofCTB (or LCU). For example, at least one of the following conditions hasto be satisfied for the slices and the tiles.

(1) All coded blocks in a slice belong to the same tile.

(2) All coded blocks in a tile belong to the same slice.

Both a slice including multiple tiles and a tile including multipleslices may be present in the same picture.

Tile ID (tile identification) may be designated in a raster scan order,and LCUs (or CTBs) in a tile may be ordered the in the block order andin the raster scan order.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the rasterscan order of LCUs.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, a picture 710 includes one sliceand one tile. Accordingly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 7, theslice and the tile have the same size as the picture 710.

Referring to FIG. 7, LCUs are ordered in the raster scan order in thepicture (in the slice or in the tile).

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the rasterscan order of LCUs.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, a picture 810 includes one sliceand 12 tiles, and each tile includes four LCUs.

Accordingly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the slice has thesame size as the picture 810, and the slice includes 12 tiles.

Referring to FIG. 8, the tiles are ordered in the raster scan order inthe picture 810 (in the slice), and the LCUs are ordered in the rasterscan order in each tile and are ordered in the raster scan order in thetile unit along with the tiles.

On the other hand, when the relationship between the tiles and theslices is flexible, a problem may occur in the decoding process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a problemthat may occur depending on the relationship between the slices and thetiles in the decoding process.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, a picture 910 includes two slices,each slice includes 6 tiles, and each tile includes four LCUs.

Referring to FIG. 9, a number allocated to each LCU is an LCU index forspecifying the LCU, and the LCU indices are designated in the tile scanorder. A number allocated to each tile is a tile ID (tile_id) forspecifying the tile and the tile IDs are designated in the tile scanorder.

An LCU to be processed next time after the process on an LCU with indexn is completed is an LCU with index n+1. Accordingly, after LCU #7 (thatis, the final LCU of a tile with a tile ID (tile_id) of 1 in the firstslice) is processed (encoded/decoded), an LCU to be processed next timeis LCU #8 in the example illustrated in FIG. 9. However, LCU #8 is anLCU belonging to a slice different from the slice including LCU #7, andLCUs not yet processed remain in the slice including LCU #7.

In this case, since the decoding is performed in the unit of slices, anLCU to be read and processed from an actual bitstream is LCU #16 whichis a next LCU in the same slice as LCU #7, but the video decoder maydetermine that LCU #8 should be determined which is an LCU subsequent toLCU #7 in terms of the LCU indices.

Since the decoder may arrange reconstructed pixels of the LCUs aterroneous positions, this mismatch may cause a severe problem.

A method of imposing a predetermined constraint or signaling tile IDsmay be considered to solve this problem. Embodiments of the inventionwill be specifically described below in this regard.

I. Constraint Application 1

In order to solve the problem illustrated in FIG. 9, the encoder and thedecoder may impose predetermined constraints on the structure of thetiles and the slices as follows at the time of setting/specifying tilesand slices,

Specifically, (1) when a picture includes multiple slices and multipletiles, the tiles belonging to the same slice are consecutively orderedin the raster scan order. (2) when a picture includes multiple slicesand multiple tiles, the tile IDs of the tiles belonging to the sameslice are not broken but have to be consecutive.

In other words, the tiles present in a slice have to be consecutive inthe raster scan order and the tile IDs (tile_id) have not to bediscontinuous.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of structureof slices and tiles according to the invention.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, a picture 1010 includes twoslices and each slice includes eight tiles.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the first slice includes tiles 0to 7 and the second slice includes tiles 8 to 15. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 10, each tile includes four LCUs.

As illustrated, the tiles belonging to the same slice are consecutivelyordered in the raster scan order depending on the constraints of theinvention, and the tile IDs of the tiles in the same slice are notdiscontinuous.

Therefore, in consideration of a case where decoding of LCU #7 iscompleted, the decoder may decode LCU #8, which is the first LCU in adifferent tile (tile_id=2) in the same slice, subsequently to LCU #7.

II. Constraint Application 2

In addition to imposing of the above-mentioned constraints on the tilesand the slices, the encoder and the decoder may solve the problemillustrated in FIG. 9 by setting/specifying the tiles and the slices asfollows.

(A) A tile is simultaneously present in a row and a column and includesan integer number of CTBs that are consecutively ordered in a codingtree block raster scan of the tile (in the tile). For example, in apicture, a rectangular region which is a common region of a columnhaving a width corresponding to a predetermined number of LCUs and a rowhaving a height corresponding to a predetermined number of LCUs may beset as a tile.

Division of each picture into tiles may be mentioned as partitioning.Tiles in a picture are consecutively ordered in the tile raster scan ofthe picture.

(B) Tile scan is a sequential ordering of CTBs into which a picture ispartitioned. The tile scan ordering traverses CTBs (or LCUs) in thecoding tree block raster scan in the tile, and traverses tiles in theraster scan order in the picture.

Even when a slice includes CTBs that are sequentially ordered in thecoding tree block raster scan of a tile (in the tile), the CTBs does notneed to be consecutively ordered in the coding tree block raster scan ofa picture (in the picture).

(C) A slice includes an integer number of CTBs that are consecutivelyordered in the tile scan. Division of each picture into slices ismentioned as partitioning. A coding tree block address may be derivedfrom the first coding tree block address in the slice (as expressed inthe slice header).

Therefore, since CTBs are ordered in the tile scan in a slice, the tilesin the slice are ordered in the raster scan and the CTBs in each tileare also ordered in the raster scan.

Here, the tile raster scan means the raster scan of tiles, and thecoding tree block raster scan means the raster scan of coding treeblocks.

According to (A), (B), and (C) described above, CTBs in a slice are notordered in the raster scan order, but are ordered in the tile scanorder. Accordingly, the configuration as in the example illustrated inFIG. 9 may not be occurred.

FIGS. 11 to 15 are diagrams illustrating allowable tile and sliceconfigurations and non-allowable tile and slice configurations dependingon constraints I and II described above.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example where a picture 1110 includes threeslices and each tile includes four CTBs. In the example illustrated inFIG. 11, the first slice includes tiles 0 to 3, the second sliceincludes tiles 4 to 7, and the third slice includes tiles 8 to 11.

The example illustrated in FIG. 11 is allowable based on constraints Iand II since it satisfies both constraints I and II.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example where a picture 1210 includes four slicesand each tile includes four CTBs. In the example illustrated in FIG. 12,the first slice includes tiles 0 and 1, the second slice includes tiles2 to 5, the third slice includes tiles 6 to 9, and the fourth sliceincludes tiles 10 and 11.

The example illustrated in FIG. 12 is allowable based on constraints Iand II since it satisfies both constraints I and II.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example where a picture 1310 includes two slicesand each tile includes four CTBs. In the example illustrated in FIG. 13,the first slice includes tiles 0, 1, 4, 5, 8, and 9 and the second sliceincludes tiles 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, and 11.

The example illustrated in FIG. 13 is not allowable based on constraintsI and II since it does not satisfy constraints I and II. Specifically,the tile IDs in each slice are not consecutive and the CTBs in eachslice are not ordered in the tile scan.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example where a picture 1410 includes two slices,each slice includes one tile, and each tile includes 24 CTBs.

The example illustrated in FIG. 11 is allowable based on constraints Iand II since it satisfies both constraints I and II.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example where a picture 1510 includes four slicesand each tile includes four CTBs. In the example illustrated in FIG. 15,the first slice includes tiles 0, 4, and 8, the second slice includestiles 2 and 3, the third slice includes tiles 5, 6, and 7, and thefourth slice includes tiles 9, 10, and 11.

The example illustrated in FIG. 15 is not allowable based on constraintsI and II since it does not satisfy constraints I and II. Specifically,the tile IDs in each slice are not consecutive and the CTBs in eachslice are not ordered in the tile scan.

III. Transmission of Tile ID (tile_id)

In order to solve the problem illustrated in FIG. 9, the tile ID(tile_id) for each LCU may be indicated.

For example, in conjunction with entry points of tiles in each sliceheader, the tile ID information indicates with what tile an entry pointoffset is associated. Accordingly, what tile corresponds to an entrypoint in the slice header is signaled.

The number of entry point offsets may be equal to the number of tiles ina slice. Alternatively, in consideration of a point that the entry pointoffset corresponding to the first entry point may be 0, the number ofentry point offset may be set to be equal to the number of tiles in theslice−1.

Here, the entry point may mean a point at which decoding is started ineach tile or WPP (Wavefront Parallel Processing), and the entry pointoffset may specify the number of bits between two entry points. Forexample, entry point offset i indicates the difference between thenumber of bits of entry point i and and the number of bits of entrypoint i−1.

Table 1 schematically shows an example of slice header informationcorrected according to the invention.

TABLE 1 Descriptor slice_header( ) { ... if(tiles_or_entropy_coding_sync_idc = = 1 ||tiles_or_entropy_coding_sync_idc = = 2 ) { num_entry_point_offsets ue(v)if( num_entry_point_offsets > 0 ) { offset_len_minus1 ue(v) for( i = 0;i < num_entry_point_offsets; i++ ) { entry_point_offset[ i ] u(v)  if(tiles_or_entropy_coding_sync_idc = = 1) offset_tile_id [i] u(v)  } } }... }

In Table 1, offset_tile_id[i] specifies an entry point offset associatedwith the i-th entry point offset (entry_point offset[i]).

The value of offset_tile_id[i] ranges from 0 to(num_tile_columns_minus1+1)*(num_tile_rows_minus1+1)−1.offset_tile_id[i] may be expressed by the bit value of ceil (log2(((num_tile_columns_minus1+1)*(num_tile_rows_minus1+1))).

Here, num_tile_columns_minus1 may specify the width of the i-th tilecolumn in the unit of CTBs (that is, LCUs). That is,num_tile_columns_minus1+1 for offset_tile_id[i] indicates a value bywhich the width of the i-th tile column is expressed in the unit ofCTBs.

In addition, num_tile_rows_minus1 may specify the height of the i-th therow in the unit of CTBs (that is, LCUs). That is, num_tile_rows_minus1+1for offset_tile_id[i] indicates a value by which the height of the i-thtile row is expressed in the unit of CTBs.

FIG. 16 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a tile andslice configuration when Table 1 is used.

In the example illustrated FIG. 16, a picture 1610 includes two slices,the first slice includes tiles 0, 1, 4, 5, 8, and 9 and the second sliceincludes tiles 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, and 11.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, each tile includes four CTBs.

Tables 2 and 3 schematically show examples where signalling shown inTable 1 is applied to FIG. 16.

Table 2 shows an example of signalling of the first slice in FIG. 16.

TABLE 2 For 1^(st) slice: num_entry_point_offsets: 6 entry_point_offset[0 ] points to first bit of LCU #0 offset_tile_id [ 0 ]: 0entry_point_offset[ 1 ] points to first bit of LCU #4 offset_tile_id [ 1]: 1 entry_point_offset[ 2 ] points to first bit of LCU #16offset_tile_id [ 2 ]: 4 entry_point_offset[ 3 ] points to first bit ofLCU #20 offset_tile_id [ 3 ]: 5 entry_point_offset[ 4 ] points to firstbit of LCU #32 offset_tile_id [ 4 ]: 8 entry_point_offset[ 5 ] points tofirst bit of LCU #36 offset_tile_id [ 5 ]: 9

In the first slice illustrated in FIG. 16, the number of entry pointoffsets is six, and each entry point offset may specify the first bit ofthe first LCU (CTB) in each tile. In the example shown in Table 2, thenumber of entry point offsets of the first slice is set to six, but theentry point offset may not be signaled for each entry point. Forexample, since the first entry point is the first bit of the first LCUin the slice and the offset value thereof is 0, the entry point offsetof the first entry point may not be signaled, but the number of entrypoint offsets may be set to 5 and only five offsets from the offset forthe second entry point may be signaled. Table 3 schematically shows anexample of signaling of the second slice in FIG. 16.

TABLE 3 For 2^(nd) slice: num_entry_point_offsets: 6 entry_point_offset[0 ] points to first bit of LCU #8 offset_tile_id [ 0 ]: 2entry_point_offset[ 1 ] points to first bit of LCU #12 offset_tile_id [1 ]: 3 entry_point_offset[ 2 ] points to first bit of LCU #24offset_tile_id [ 2 ]: 6 entry_point_offset[ 3 ] points to first bit ofLCU #28 offset_tile_id [ 3 ]: 7 entry_point_offset[ 4 ] points to firstbit of LCU #40 offset_tile_id [ 4 ]: 10 entry_point_offset[ 5 ] pointsto first bit of LCU #44 offset_tile_id [ 5 ]: 11

In the second slice illustrated in FIG. 16, the number of entry pointoffsets is six, and each entry point offset may specify the first bit ofthe first LCU (CTB) in each tile. In the example shown in Table 3, thenumber of entry point offsets of the second slice is set to six, but theentry point offset may not be signaled for each entry point. Forexample, since the first entry point is the first bit of the first LCUin the slice and the offset value thereof is 0, the entry point offsetof the first entry point may not be signaled, but the number of entrypoint offsets may be set to 5 and only five offsets from the offset forthe second entry point may be signaled.

As shown in Tables 1 to 3, by signaling the entry points, the decodermay accurately specify a decoding order and a decoding target.

Hitherto, I, II, and III are described as individual embodiments, butembodiments of the invention are not limited to I, II, and III. Forexample, I, II, and III may not only be individually embodied but alsomay be embodied together.

Specifically, (1) and (2) of I may be simultaneously performed on thebasis of (A), (B), and/or (C) of II. III may be applied on the basis of(A), (B), and/or (C) of II to signal the information on the entrypoints. (1) and (2) of I may be performed on the basis of III to signalthe information on the entry points. In addition, (1) and (2) of I and(A), (B), and/or (C) of II may be applied on the basis of III to signalthe information on the entry points.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a video encodingmethod according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 17, the video encoder may partition an input picture(S1710). The video encoder may partition the input picture to specifytiles and slices. A picture may include one or more tiles and one ormore slices. A slice and a tile include CTBs (LCUs). Here, the LCUs(CTBs) in a slice may be ordered in the tile scan. Details of the tilescan are the same as described above.

For example, when a slice includes multiple tiles, the multiple tilesmay be ordered in the raster scan order in the slice. Each tile mayinclude multiple LCUs, and the LCUs may be ordered in the raster scanorder in each tile.

Constraints for parallel processing may be applied to the tiles and theslices. For example, a tile in the input picture must not traverse aslice boundary, and a slice must not traverse a tile boundary.

A tile may include a natural number of complete slices when the tileincludes slices, and a slice may include a natural number of completetiles when the slice includes tiles.

The video encoder may perform an encoding process on the basis of thetiles and the slices (S1720). Since a picture can be partitioned intoone or more tile and one or more slices and the constraints for parallelprocessing are imposed on the tiles and the slices, the video encodermay encode the tiles and/or slices in parallel through the use of theprocessing cores.

In the encoding step, CUs into which an LCU is partitioned in accordancewith the quad-tree structure may be set as a unit of encoding.

The video encoder may transmit encoded video information (S1730).

When a current picture includes multiple tiles, the video encoder maycause the video information to include information indicating the firstbit of the first LCU in each tile out of the second or subsequent tiles.At this time, the information may be information indicating an offsetbetween the first bit of the first LCU in a current tile and the firstbit of the first LCU in a previous tile.

The video information may include information on slices and tilesspecified on the basis of the constraints for the parallel processing.

For the purpose of convenience of explanation, it is described abovewith reference to FIG. 17 that the video encoder performs the steps, butthe invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, stepS1710 may be performed by the picture partitioning module 105 of FIG. 1,step S1720 may be performed by functional blocks other than the picturepartitioning module 105 in FIG. 1, and step S1730 may be performed by aparticular transmission module or the entropy encoding module 130. Here,the transmission module may not be separately provided, but may beincluded in the entropy encoding module 130.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a video decodingmethod according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 18, the video decoder may receive video information(S1810). The video decoder may receive video information transmittedfrom the video encoder and the video information may include informationfor specifying tiles and slices in a current picture.

When a current picture includes multiple tiles, the video encoder maycause the video information to include information indicating the firstbit of the first LCU in each tile out of the second or subsequent tiles.At this time, the information may be information indicating an offsetbetween the first bit of the first LCU in a current tile and the firstbit of the first LCU in a previous tile.

The video decoder may specify partitions of the current picture on thebasis of the received video information (S1820). The video decoderspecifies the slices and the tiles in the current picture on the basisof the information for specifying the tiles and the slices, which isincluded in the video information. At this time, the current picture maybe partitioned into one or more tiles and one or more slices, and eachslice and each tile may include CTBs (LCUs).

The LCUs (CTBs) in a slice may be ordered in the tile scan. Details ofthe tile scan are the same as described above.

For example, when a slice includes multiple tiles, the multiple tilesmay be ordered in the raster scan order in the slice. Each tile mayinclude multiple LCUs, and the LCUs may be ordered in the raster scanorder in each tile.

Constraints for parallel processing may be applied to the tiles and theslices. For example, a tile in the input picture must not traverse aslice boundary, and a slice must not traverse a tile boundary. A tilemay include a natural number of complete slices when the tile includesslices, and a slice may include a natural number of complete tiles whenthe slice includes tiles.

The video decoder may perform a decoding process on the basis of thespecified tiles and slices (S1830).

In the decoding step, the CUs into which an LCU is partitioned on thebasis of the quad-tree structure may be set as the unit of decoding.

Since a picture can be partitioned into one or more tile and one or moreslices and the constraints for parallel processing are imposed on thetiles and the slices, the video decoder may encode the tiles and/orslices in parallel through the use of the processing cores.

Here, it is described above that the video decoder performs the steps ofFIG. 18, but this is for the purpose of convenience of explanation andthe invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, stepS1810 may be performed by a particularly reception module or the entropydecoding module. The reception module may not be separately provided butmay be included in the entropy decoding module. Step S1820 and stepS1830 may be performed by the functional blocks of FIG. 2. For example,when modules performing the functions other than the reception functionare referred to as a decoding module, steps S1820 and S1830 may beperformed by the decoding module. When the entropy decoding moduleincludes the reception module, step S1810 may be performed by thereception module in the decoding module.

While the methods in the above-mentioned exemplary system have beendescribed on the basis of flowcharts including a series of steps orblocks, the invention is not limited to the order of steps and a certainstep may be performed in a step or an order other than described aboveor at the same time as described above. The above-mentioned embodimentsmay include various examples. Therefore, the invention includes allsubstitutions, corrections, and modifications belonging to the appendedclaims.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A method for decoding video, the method comprising:receiving video information including information on a tile andinformation on a slice, wherein the tile is a common rectangular regionof a column of largest coding units (LCUs) and a row of LCUs and theslice comprises an integer number of LCUs; specifying the tile and theslice in a current picture on the basis of the received videoinformation, wherein the current picture includes one or more tiles andone or more slices; and performing decoding for the current picture onthe basis of the one or more tile and the one or more slice, whereintiles in the slice are ordered in raster scan order when the sliceincludes plurality of tiles.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein thestep of performing decoding includes performing decoding in the unit ofa coding unit (CU) which is divided from the LCU.
 19. The method ofclaim 17, wherein LCUs in the tile are ordered in the raster scan orderwhen the tile includes a plurality of LCUs.
 20. The method of claim 17,wherein LCUs in the tile are traversed in the raster scan order andtiles in the current picture are traversed in the raster scan order. 21.The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving the videoinformation includes entry point information, and wherein the entrypoint information indicates a first bit of a first LCU in each tile of asecond tile and the tiles subsequent thereto when the current pictureincludes a plurality of tiles.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein theentry point information indicates an offset between a first bit of afirst LCU in a current tile and a first bit of a first LCU in a previoustile.
 23. The method of claim 17, wherein tile IDs specifying the tilesordered in the slice are consecutive.
 24. The method of claim 17,wherein the received video information is entropy decoded in a basis ofAdaptive Arithmetic Coding.
 25. The method of claim 17, wherein the LCUsin the slice are ordered in tile scan order, and wherein in the tilescan order, the LCUs in the tile are ordered in the raster scan orderand the tiles in the slice are ordered in the raster scan order.